The Story Behind They Might Be Giants' Birdhouse in Your Soul

the original site:
consequence.net/2022/05/birdhouse-in-your-soul-they-might-be-giants-story-behind-song/

[@richardwatson5437]

TMBG - Birdhouse In Your Soul: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJ_CoKVvnKp1bMk Charles Mingus - Better Get It In Your Soul: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGGplH6Fm7earKc The Lovin' Spoonful - Summer In The City: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2jSl6F-ot14Y6s TMBG - If Day For Winnipeg: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5LKdmRpo72hf9U The Who - So Sad About Us: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4G1kpl9nbuFiJY TMBG - Venue Songs: kzbin.info/www/bejne/npeXnXqPoq56gtU The Residents - Constantinople: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aILcd5psi76ghc0

[@hpoz222]

very happy with how diplomatically JL shut down the NFT question

[@ililililil8385]

An incredibly based individual.

[@aazhie]

Diplomatic, but extremely clearly with no uncertainty :D

[@claytonjenkins5292]

What is a NFT?

[@benjaminhawthorne1969]

@@claytonjenkins5292 National Football Troupe?

[@polygawn]

@@claytonjenkins5292you don’t wanna know, trust me man

[@adjordan9291]

Specific "Birdhouse" explanation starts around 26:00.

[@ClaudetteMiss]

Thanks!

[@sandralawson4761]

You're a god!

[@benonaru]

@@sandralawson4761xtreme contrast between thanks here! Yikes!

[@jm2058]

Dear god thank you, he's definitely a better singer...

[@mattjohn4731]

Haha I attended multiple excellent concerts of theirs​@@jm2058

[@houseofcrazyman865]

this guy really tried to float the idea of NFTs to one of the writers of "Kiss Me, Son of God" and "The Communists Have The Music"

[@nybbleme]

NFTs are such a scam. I'm convinced they're a con at worst and a money laundering scheme at best, at this point. Plus there been several legal commentators that have said they're very legally dubious.

[@houseofcrazyman865]

@@nybbleme They're just a way to reintroduce the idea of scarcity to a world with copy/paste. That kind of freedom runs against commercialization, and it's the same logic behind copy protection on everything from music to video games. Information wants to be free.

[@erich1394]

@@houseofcrazyman865 Crypto as an investment vehicle was always a mistake. I've been saying this for years. At best, it's a means of performing transactions in a specific way that appeals to certain markets. Now the govt is cracking down on crypto BECAUSE it's an investment class. I can't help but wonder if that was the real endgame of pushing it as an investment to begin with. NFTs are a scam. They are a grift. They are sold by conpersons who use the fact that their product makes no sense as a means of selling it to people who probably assume they just don't understand it. There is literally nothing special about NFTs. They are 100% bullshit, steaming and fresh from the anus. Good old fashioned American bullshit.

[@mynamesnotshanekid813]

Kiss me, son of god was actually a cover!

[@robynrydbergliden]

@@mynamesnotshanekid813 It actually wasn't

[@mrwednesdaynight]

The first thing I said to my son when he entered this world was singing him Birdhouse in Your Soul. I held him and was so overwhelmed with emotion, I sang the first thing that popped into my head which was this song.

[@benjaminhawthorne1969]

Itis indeed a wonderful lullaby for children AND adults! 😇

[@kurtcobaindupe]

Aww that was the lullaby my uncle sang to me whenever I cried as a little kid!! It’s a lovely song :)

[@sinsgalore5146]

Hopefully you didn't recite the line "I'm not your only friend, But I'm a little glowing friend, But really I'm not actually your friend"

[@mrwednesdaynight]

@@sinsgalore5146 I did exactly. He was minutes old.

[@garyhuntress6871]

It's amazing to me how much I love TMBG. My #1 band by far, all my favorite songs, and the best concerts I've been to. I have a blue canary night light. When my daughter was 11 or 12, for fathers day she gave me a rock and a piece of string. It's probably the most memorable gift I've received and I'd go back into the burning house to retrieve it.

[@theothertonydutch]

I have no number ones because that's arbitrary. Contrarily, I do listen to TMBG a lot.

[@snabbott]

Now all you need is a prosthetic forehead.

[@robadams5799]

Doesn't everybody want a rock to wind a piece of string around?

[@QuinnArgo]

That's the smartest gift I have ever heard of

[@JillKnapp]

You raised a good kid, Dad.

[@pellelindbergh7483]

I was 15 when TMBG released Flood and Birdhouse in Your Soul started playing on MTV. I didn't know what to make of it but I loved it. I was an instant fan and have been ever since. I love that they seem to have a bottomless well of amazing material to draw from. Love these guys!

[@robadams5799]

"Oddball and artsy." That's a good description of TMBG. I first heard them in the 90's when a friend of mine gave me a ride and he had "Apollo 18" on his car stereo.

[@baqaqi]

The name of the group sounded like a statement of cautious hope. After 30+ years it's pretty clear they most definitely ARE giants.

[@kelvyquayo]

I was kinda hoping for Dr. Spock’s Backup Band…. but this will do.

[@michaelathens137]

@@kelvyquayo I reviewed Flood for my high school newspaper. The title of the review was "They Might Be Giants are". Really nobody understood that title.

[@kelvyquayo]

@@michaelathens137 nice. I first heard them on Tiny Toons when I was about 13.. then at High School play 9th Grade cast Party in 1991.. Flood.. I had never heard anything like it.

[@drrocketman7794]

And what will we do unless they are?

[@kiffl-s8371]

As my friends and I used to say, "They MIGHT be giants. They MUST be geniuses!"

[@deanevangelista6359]

I just saw them perform in DC a few days ago, probably 30 years since I first saw them live, and they’ve never failed to surprise the audience, either with an out of character cover song, or playing one of their songs backwards.

[@perryjohnson7529]

That's awesome, I saw them about 30 years ago, in DC. They did a show at "the new" 9:30 club.

[@clarabean2150]

I just saw them in CT for the NYE concert. It was so awesome.

[@jojogrrl2756]

A dear friend of mine passed away aged 50 22 December 2022 and they played this at his funeral. He was such a quirky guy. The world has lost a little piece of light. Thank you for a song that made the song track of my friend’s life.

[@placeholderdoe]

Sorry for your loss, may he rest in peace

[@loonaq4406]

WHY IS IT SO LONG AWDJHWDHDW THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS LORE

[@mobius273]

*sped up tmbg videos* tmbg lore

[@floridaflamingogirl3119]

I love how this comments section seems to be a combination of alt kids from Tumblr and 50-60 year old punk rock nerds. The range of the TMBG fanbase brings a smile to my face.

[@Vileplume87]

​@@floridaflamingogirl3119there are 2 types of TMBG fans, gen X-ers and Tumblr users

[@nazfrde]

The Emerson quote is actually, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." People often forget that "foolish" is a crucial part of it.

[@TheTralfaz]

I first heard of them when a friend played me LINCOLN.........I was hooked immediately

[@bryede]

I still love the super low-tech sound of the self-titled pink album. I think of it like Monty Python and the Holy Grail where many of the decisions that ended up being the funniest were actually compromises made due to budget restrictions.

[@thomasnaas2813]

Some great tunes in the pink.

[@RRM_Personal]

Linnell with a beard is truly a sight to behold

[@tmartin6300]

I think Flansburgh has a bigger one.

[@benjaminhawthorne1969]

In the 1970's, as a child, I had a storybook. called GEORGIE & THE ROBBERS. It came with one of those black pieces of plastic that would play on my record player and had sound effects from the story: ghosts wailing, glass breaking, cat's screeching, etc. I was easily entertained!

[@benjaminhawthorne1969]

In grade school we would often wish each other..."May THE BLUEBIRD OF HAPPINESS shit on your shoulder!" We thought that that was the HEIGHT of comedic genius. 🤣

[@Dial.a.archivist]

I freaking love this man

[@jmg2942]

TMBG educational songs saved my mind when my kiddo was little, Flying V, D is for Drums, helped me keep my sanity and keep the kiddo happy! I suggest it to new parents all the time.

[@BanksBanks420]

Here come the ABCs was my favorite when growing up

[@no1reallycaresabout2]

Thanks John Linnell for introducing me to The Residents

[@lexie.ward.]

From TMBG fan to TMBG fan… a few teeth gritting moments in this one 😅

[@floridaflamingogirl3119]

That interviewer was a letdown. Just asking him generic questions that could be asked to literally any musical artist. He could have done a little research beforehand.

[@vailpcs4040]

As someone who was saw the Venue Songs Tour at City Limits in Tucson, I can honestly say that TMBG has been an amazing band since I first heard of them in 1990. Long live the Johns (and the Dans and Marty)!

[@phoenixshade3]

John basically said "F**k NFTs" in the least offensive way possible.

[@benjaminhawthorne1969]

How very nice to find you on YT here today John. After a long illness and losing EVERYTHING that I had including my house, motorcycle, truck, furniture, musical instruments, etc. The ONE thing that I am truly missing is my DVD "A Tale of Two Johns!" I have been hospitalized or in rehab for five (5) years now, but as soon as I get out and make some money, I hope it is still in print so I can purchase a new copy! I LOVE TMBG!

[@BanksBanks420]

i am not john, but i am glad you enjoyed this interveiw as much as i did

[@polygawn]

Dang man, I hope everything turns out alright for you. Keep fighting!!!!!

[@placeholderdoe]

Keep fighting dude, i really hope it gets better soon

[@jessss27]

Aw he looks so good with the beard. I remember my friend was a TMBG fan in high school and I didn't really get it then, but I'm getting into them now and realizing how genius their songs are! Birdhouse In Your Soul is woven together so perfectly

[@demonicsweaters]

Incredible song writer.

[@alexcarter8807]

I love *Birdhouse* it takes me back to when I was a kid in Hawaii, and we had a local show for kids called the Checkers & Pogo Show and one of the things they'd do was these little bits about the water company, the electric company, the newspaper, the zoo, etc. and one was about the Makapu'u Lighthouse and they showed how it has a fresnel lens and how that's made ... good times. It showed how having a light, just the ability to have a light to help ships navigate was a big, big thing.

[@TheTralfaz]

in the 70's A very creative friend of mine attended a fancy dress party wearing a double breasted suit with light sensitive diodes attached to the shoulders , which , in turn ,sent varying strength signals ( from the light show which was happening ) to a ring modulator which blasted out bizarre noises from the tweeters sewn into the lapels......he also wore a dog muzzle atop his head with a flashing red LED swastika inside it, All topped off with his face painted grey and a black lacy veil draped over the muzzle. The best thing was the vibe it created....everyone else were yuppie types in Napoleon and Cleopatra ...Lady Godiva style rented costumes. Ill tell you about another of his get-ups another time

[@freemanz4051]

We just named out band "It Could Have Been Worse"

[@stevena488]

Ahem.... MINIMUM WAAAAAAGE, HYAH!!!

[@kelvyquayo]

The whole time he just looked like a younger version of his true modern self!! Perfect!

[@thomasnaas2813]

It should be obvious to any random cephalaphore that he's your only friend, but he's not actually your friend, but he is... got it?

[@greagandev]

I thoroughly enjoyed this.

[@daviddobsch]

You draw the right people.

[@xmariner]

Oh my GOD They Might Be Giants is a break in the Matrix and I didn't even know it!

[@erich1394]

They might me giants has always been a Don Quixote reference for tilting at windmills for me

[@floridaflamingogirl3119]

They got their name from the title of a movie, which in turn was based on the idea of Quixote!

[@erich1394]

@@floridaflamingogirl3119 Thanks for clarifying that!

[@polygawn]

I had to read that exact excerpt from Don Quixote for school and I nearly choked when I read the part about him fighting the windmills “they…might…be….gian…t….s refrence……..”

[@claytonjenkins5292]

Why are these guys not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?!?!

[@drrocketman7794]

Yes, they should be!

[@benjaminhawthorne1969]

Because the RRHOF is Jan Wenner's PERSONAL record collection. If he doesn't already own anything by an artist, they have no hope of getting in. Jan's collection therefore has no MEANING (status) to me per se. But it is an AMAZING museum for a music fan.

[@benjaminhawthorne1969]

I had my vacation to The RRHOF scheduled for months. It was to start on September 12, 2001, and I was riding my new motorcycle from my home in Chicagoland to the HOF on the shores of Lake Erie in Cleveland, OH. Well, EVERYONE is aware of what happened on September 11, 2001. Our world changed! I did not know if the hall would even be opened because ALL government buildings from post offices on up were locked down tight with trucks blocking the entrances to prevent car bombers and armed militia patrolling. I stopped by my father's (a veteran) grave on the way out of town. I plucked the American flag from it and attached it to the luggage rack on the back of my motorcycle. I flew "Old Glory" all the way from Chicago to Cleveland and back!

[@benjaminhawthorne1969]

There was an amazing feeling of unity amongst ALL of us Americans. In motorcycle culture, we have "The wave" that we give to our fellow passing motorcyclists. But after Sept. 11, I did NOT reserve my wave for those on 2 wheels only. I waved to passing truck drivers, people on mopeds and "cages" the motorcyclist's term for cars. While passing a cornfield along the way, I waved to a farmer on his tractor putting in the seed and he waved BACK!

[@benjaminhawthorne1969]

When I arrived at the museum, they were presenting an exhibit simply titled: LENNON. At that time in America and knowing how John's life was ended, I do not mind telling you that I got VERY emotional at that point. To be able to see with my own eyes the actual pieces of paper where John and Paul first wrote the lyrics to songs that are now and forever a part of our human history and culture, that ALONE was worth the ride!

[@sarcasmo57]

Great band. Nice interview.

[@alexcarter8807]

I like how they have those trumpet screams and in the video the trumpet has this sort of metal thing on the end with a face on it .... makes me want to try making one for my trumpet and see what it does to the sound.

[@yorgasor]

These guys have been one of my favorite bands since the 90's, and Birdhouse in Your Soul is one of my absolute favorites! Their sound is so unique they almost defy any genre, but my friend who introduced me to them suggested "Novelty Pop" and I thought that was about perfect.

[@Hereford567]

I saw you guys in Melbourne Australia. It was the at the “Old Greek Theatre”. I can’t remember when mid 80s maybe… Bought the “Flood” tshirt and album. I think you guys are equal or better than Morrissey, TISM, I love you guys…I’m fucking nearly 60 now and I get excited like a teen girl when I hear your music…oh “Housemartins” ….love you guys. Thanks for being a part of the soundtrack to my life. That’s right.

[@NxDoyle]

1990. Flood tour. I saw 'em at The Metropolis in Brisbane.

[@tauruschorus]

John Linnell is a gem and holy shit this guy is not a great interviewer.

[@jtsparks4798]

I wish I could ask John about some of the other songs, and what inspired them. After listening to them for years and years, I think some of their songs are subtle social commentary. Like "Mr. Horrible". Who hasn't worked with someone like Mr. Horrible?

[@BlakeBlackstone]

Most bands when interviewed will try to retrofit things into their stories and/or answers so that they sound more intellectual or because they are embarrassed of their younger selves. I didn't get that at all from this interview.

[@lazchurchyard1229]

TMBG: "it rhymed with infinite" 🤷‍♀️

[@NewWaveEnthusiast]

Linnell with a beard radiates the same energy as Flansburgh without his glasses.

[@polygawn]

CURSED, ITS ALL CURSEDDDD

[@charlesramosjr.1904]

Build a little bach pad in your basement. LOL

[@DrGobii]

John talking about moving into apartments in Brooklyn. I guess back then ('81) rent wasn't as expensive.

[@alexcarter8807]

Are you kidding? In 81 I rented a room in Hawaii for like $150 a month. $300 would have got me an apartment in Waikiki. You could buy a starter house for $20k.

[@benjaminhawthorne1969]

When asked what his lyrics mean, Michael Stipe of R.E.M. said "Nothing. They are merely syllables and sounds that I make using my voice as just another instrument in the piece." So, people who try to "discover" the meaning of an R.E.M. song from the lyrics are eternally chasing their tails.

[@unikadas]

LOL the "stat room"? is that what it was called? As in photostat machines? Wow! That's what my mom used working for Cy DeCosse back in the 80s making microwave cook books with those fake food recipes and stuff, lighting and photographing glue for milk and plastic ice cubes and all that. Also, my birthday is 2 days before their first show as TMBG (the "23" show). I feel like this band has been playing theme songs about us hapless citizens of technocratic empire since I was born. I'd rather have a real tribe too, and not have so much intergenerational trauma about being separated from indigenous realities, but TMBG is a very sweet surrogate for profound belonging to a village of well-meaning nerds.

[@joshuamasonseight-bitbasta2451]

eh... he said the Q word. I thought he was gonna get away without saying it.

[@beverly4059]

I like this.

[@JanKustersSittard]

Of course 'it might be worse' would be a great band name...

[@robadams5799]

"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds" Ralph Waldo Emerson.

[@janna2245]

I love you!!!

[@BanksBanks420]

I, a 16 year old, enjoy yo ur p rescen ce too . thanks for enjoying0 m0y reupload.

[@robadams5799]

I saw the thumbnail and thought it was Adams Savage.

[@TheLittleDuke]

This song's lyrics are "emergent"

[@gingiehoward1539]

Hi John!!! ❤

[@BanksBanks420]

I am not John, but hello

[@gingiehoward1539]

@@BanksBanks420 ok, well hi 2 u 2!

[@tgore276]

is it my imagination or does the interviewer not know anything about tmbg?

[@tommythevenot7617]

I actually blame Linnell for the poor interview. The host had to mention that their band name is the title of a movie. I was wondering if Linnell was going to ever bring that up.

[@floridaflamingogirl3119]

Not your imagination. Most of his questions were very generic ones that could be asked to any musician. Very few of them felt like they were specifically tailored to Linnell and his unique career.

[@thekidfromiowa]

What story? It's obviously about a guy who has a birdhouse in his soul. Pretty straightforward. :p

[@vailpcs4040]

It's about a very neurotic nightlight that needs you to need it.

[@josephkanowitz6875]

ב''ה, Fidel obeyed the mitzvah.

[@Paul-dw2cl]

46:00

[@bigturboxr3i]

I love the way none of it makes any sense to me.

[@kikivesz]

can someone please for the love of god timestamp the nft question part

[@polygawn]

Ur a project sekai fan AND a TMBG fan??? 🤯

[@kikivesz]

@@polygawn kinda of !! im a huge tmbg fan but i stopped playing pjsekai months ago

[@polygawn]

⁠@@kikivesz ohh I see!! I just started playing the game a few months ago and I really like it :D also here’s the timestamp lol 15:35

[@kikivesz]

​@@polygawni see . i loved playing pjsekai but i got tired of it, also thank you for the timestamp !!

[@BanksBanks420]

He was ready to throw hands​@@polygawn

[@robertbarnett7028]

And the world didn’t behave.

[@Paul-dw2cl]

5:00

[@terrywasieleski7978]

Come back to 19:49 navy peer

[@BanksBanks420]

Why does everyone think I am John?

[@vinnyoz4709]

Enjoy being John ❤

[@vinnyoz4709]

NO WAIT I SHOULD'VE SAID "THEY MIGHT BE JOHN"

[@polygawn]

Ur so lucky I wish I was john he is literally me fr fr fr!!

[@Paul-dw2cl]

26:30

[@samanthastudios618]

18:44 the WHAT party, John???

[@samcopeland3155]

It bugs me that the Johns don’t seem to know that their band name is a reference to Don Quixote.

[@deepaksampathu4916]

would you briefly explain the reference?

[@samcopeland3155]

@@deepaksampathu4916 There's a chapter where Don Quixote hallucinates a windmill as a giant, which he then attacks to hilarious effect. The George C Scott movie called "They Might be Giants" is very loosely based on Don Quixote. It's a shame the Johns don't know the reference, because the phrase "they might be giants" calls into question the border between sane and insane reality, which is a theme in their music.

[@deepaksampathu4916]

Thank you!

[@kelvyquayo]

I never ever ever knew this…. Now I see there is a 1970s movie called “They Might Be Giants”…. My universe is forever changed..

[@nickdryad]

it’s so refreshing when you come across comments like yours that shows intelligence and broad knowledge. Thank you.

[@polygawn]

Rewatching this because I’m bored…I’m gonna use the guy on the right as a prime example on how NOT to treat ur podcast guests!!!! Remember: people are here for John, not YOU.

[@m1t2a1]

So is it Istanbul or Constantinople?

[@Vileplume87]

That's nobody's business but the Turks

[@m1t2a1]

@@Vileplume87 Thanks for clearing that up. I have a date in Constantinople but I guess she'll be waiting in Instanbul

[@nickdryad]

This interviewer tells too many stories about himself. Really, the anecdotes we are interested in are those of the interviewee. As I grow older I get a bit sad that Giants were so derivative. It was nice to be ignorant of all their pop borrowing.

[@nybbleme]

You have to view them like you view Weird Al yankovic. Inspired by lots of other music and doing wacky things instead with the inspiration.

[@nybbleme]

You do know that John is the one on the left right? The interviewer is the guy on the right and I didn't hear him tell any stories about himself.

[@nickdryad]

@@nybbleme R Stevie Smith had this thing where he was making whack music that seems to come from nowhere but pure imagination. Weird Ali’s a parodist. The Giants are 60-80% original

[@seha6391]

HOLY SHIT YA Grew a SANTA beard

[@baconstrips6260]

So many people asked you to play fingertips in Asheville, and you didnt... TMBG are lame af!

[@bigcaulkhead6140]

Bad interviewer it seems like :/ boring. Tmbg are one of the strangest bands but, still awesome haha